Jealousy Read Online Free PDF Page B

can we go somewhere quiet to talk for a sec?”
    Drew nodded. His eyes lingered on me for a second. “C’mon. I know a spot.”
    He took my hand, and we sidestepped around clusters of people talking, dancing, and eating, until Drew stopped. He twisted an antique brass doorknob and pushed open a door that had been partially hidden by draped purple fabric.
    We stepped into a dimly lit side hallway. It was narrow with brick walls on both sides. Iron-and-glass lanterns were spaced every few feet along both sides of the hall, and small bulbs emitted soft yellow light. At one end an EXIT sign glowed. The thick walls absorbed most of the music coming from the other side. I could actually hear myself think.
    â€œIs this okay?” Drew asked. “It’s heated in here, at least, or we can go outside if you want.”
    â€œThis is perfect,” I said. “I needed a private space to talk to you.”
    Drew, standing across from me, leaned his back against the brick wall. “Is everything okay?”
    I was quiet. For a very long time.
    â€œNo. Not really,” I said finally. “Lex, Khlo, and my other friends were covering for me tonight. Something really unexpected happened, and they did what best friends do. I want you to hear the whole story from me before anyone else tells you.”
    â€œYou can talk to me,” Drew said. “Whatever it is—I want to know.”
    I hope you really mean that and don’t storm out of here the second I’m finished.
    â€œI’ve told you a little about Taylor Frost—my ex-boyfriend,” I said.
    â€œRight. Mutual breakup.”
    â€œYes, and tonight Taylor came here.”
    Drew’s eyes widened. “He came to Canterwood? For your birthday?”
    I chewed the inside of my cheek. “Yes and no. He came to my party to surprise me and to tell me some incredibly huge news.” I looked down, not wanting to see Drew’s reaction. “Taylor applied and was accepted to Canterwood.”
    Drew was silent for a moment. Every sound in the tiny hallway seemed amplified, and I heard both of us breathing.
    â€œIf he’s here, does that mean you want to get back together?” Drew asked. There was zero emotion in his tone—it gave me no sense of what he felt.
    I shook my head, bringing my eyes to Drew’s. “No. No. I promise. I already told Taylor that you and I had just started something and I was not getting back with him.”
    â€œWere you off talking?” Drew asked. “Is that what your friends were covering?”
    â€œTaylor and I were talking, and yes, that’s why Lex and everyone covered for me. But they didn’t know Taylor was coming either.”
    This was it. This was the moment when Drew was either going to walk away or stay with me.
    â€œDrew, I want to tell you everything. I like you, andI don’t want to keep secrets. Taylor found me inside the ballroom, and I thought he was you . He had a mask covering his face and hair—I was so caught up in the party, the lighting was dim, and all I could think was ‘Drew actually came to my party!’ ”
    â€œLaur, of course I was coming,” Drew said. “We must have been missing each other for a while inside.”
    I nodded. “We definitely were. When Taylor found me, he led me outside and toward a carriage. I thought my birthday wish was about to come true.”
    â€œWhat did you wish for?” Drew’s voice was soft.
    â€œThat you would kiss me on my birthday,” I said shyly, softly. “But I know that won’t happen now.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œBecause when Taylor took me outside, he kissed me. Drew, I’m so sorry!” I squeezed my eyes shut. “I thought Taylor was you until he kissed me. I knew something wasn’t right, and I pushed him away.” My voice bounced off the walls. “I was so furious at Taylor that I dragged him away from the ballroom